Min Scope Power

Has 5x min power cost you opportunities when hunting?

  • YES

    Votes: 3 21.4%
  • NO

    Votes: 11 78.6%

  • Total voters
    14

JakeSCH

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2020
Messages
971
Location
San Diego, CA
I have always mounted a rifle scope with a minimum power of 2.5x or 3x...however I have never taken a sub 100y shot on a big game animal. So my question is, have you guys missed an opportunity on an animal by running 5x on the low end?

Question stems from the idea of moving from my Maven RS.1 (2.5-15) to a RS.3 (5-30x).
 

Geewhiz

WKR
Joined
Aug 6, 2020
Messages
2,026
Location
SW MT
I tend to hunt more open country so I get the most magnification I can. I bought a SWFA fixed 16x this year and am loving it so far. Watch now i'll run into the biggest bull of my life in the timber at 11 yards and not be able to see him.


I guess that in no way answered your question, sorry. lol
 
Joined
Sep 23, 2018
Messages
1,936
Location
Santa Rosa, CA
Shot two animals this past season , both under 100 yards, with scopes set at 6x. Actually had to turn my leupold 2.5-8 up to pick out a black hog in the shade. I still prefer having the option to turn it down to 2,3, or 4x though.
 

hodgeman

WKR
Joined
Mar 4, 2012
Messages
1,547
Location
Delta Junction, AK
5x won't be a problem....20x with a critter at 50 paces will be the problem.

I've hunted quite a bit with a fixed 6x and a 10x without issues.
 
Joined
Jun 9, 2020
Messages
28
Not a problem, unless you leave out the practice both at the range and at the house shouldering the rifle.
 

260madman

WKR
Joined
Dec 15, 2017
Messages
1,211
Location
WI
No. My scopes are usually set on 6x and have 3 fixed 6x scopes on rifles. Even the thick stuff I use 6x. Haven’t had an issue. If your eyebox is tight or your comb is too low compared to the scope height you'll have issues.
 

Big Ern

WKR
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Messages
342
Location
California
Kills are always in the 6-10 power range.

i used to run a 4-16, but switched to a 5-20 scope last season. No complaints. More top end power though really not needed. Bumped from 44mm obj to 50. 5-20 has a great fov.
 

Sled

WKR
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
2,148
Location
Utah
For a target gun 5x is a fine low end. 2 or 3x is ideal for hunting. I've used a 4-16 with success as well but that's out west. I wouldn't have it for eastern whitetail.

A question I have is what distance are you hunting at that 30x will be used?
 
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Messages
2,230
IMO it is all about the Field of View. Some scopes with 5x on the low end have a bigger FOV than a scope with 2x on the low end.
 

S.Clancy

WKR
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Messages
2,310
Location
Montana
I've hunted with a 3.5-10x50 Leopold for 2 decades, shots from 20-506 yards. Just bought a new scope with the fancy turrets, 2-10x42. I don't really see a need for more than 10x myself. I've seen a number of screw ups because scopes were on 10x + instead of 3x, mine stays on the lowest power until I absolutely need more.
 

ChrisAU

WKR
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Messages
6,053
Location
SE Alabama
Where it has bitten me before is awkward shooting positions - specifically in a tree stand trying to get an animal in the scope that is behind me. Can't remember it costing me an animal, but it has made things difficult when in my earlier years I had a 6-18 on a whitetail rifle. Now I prefer less than 3x for a minimum on a woods rifle and it stays there when I'm hunting.
 

nmpyro

FNG
Joined
Feb 20, 2021
Messages
22
I have always mounted a rifle scope with a minimum power of 2.5x or 3x...however I have never taken a sub 100y shot on a big game animal. So my question is, have you guys missed an opportunity on an animal by running 5x on the low end?

Question stems from the idea of moving from my Maven RS.1 (2.5-15) to a RS.3 (5-30x).
I run a SWFA ultralight 2.5-10x on my Go-To… i won’t take an animal shot beyond 750-800 and only under great conditions then. But the 10x is sufficient for that… on paper i shoot it out to 1100 (8”, so it apparently works)
2.5 is super fast and yeah. I smoked a muley at 150 with that last year on 2.5x because he jumped up fast and i didn’t have much time. Felt fine.
 

Themic86

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 16, 2021
Messages
163
Location
DFW, Texas
Never had a problem as most of the time I am at the top range of scope regardless of distance. Unless you are gaining a big step in glass quality seems like a hassle to gain 20x at top instead of 15x.


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